Got a spare $23,000? Devialet just launched a super slimline streaming amp, and it's gorgeous

Want a svelte streaming amp that looks for each nan world for illustration it was hewn by nan Greek God Chrysus – nan 1 astir associated pinch precious metal? Devialet tin help, pinch its all-new Astra (which is fundamentally nan sanction of nan Titan God of nan stars, planets and truthful on).

The Astra Opéra de Paris version is vanished successful 23-carat golden leafage by artisans from Ateliers Gohard. But nether its stunning exterior, it is of people built connected past greatness. In this case, Devialet wouldn't necessarily constituent you towards its spherical Devialet Mania (also disposable successful a 'sunset rose' hue) aliases nan company's fabulous high-end Dione soundbar which boasts nan aforesaid drivers arsenic those premium in-flight seats. No, Astra is nan improvement of Devialet's first creation, nan Devialet Expert amplifier, unveiled 15 years agone – yes, now I besides consciousness arsenic aged arsenic nan Gods.

Devialet says Astra is "our astir precocious integrated audiophile strategy yet", and contempt its proportions of conscionable 38.6cm x 38.6cm x 4.7cm – truthful astir nan aforesaid arsenic a very high-end pizza container – and a beautiful slimline weight of 7.2kg, it totes 2x300 watts of power. There's besides Wi-Fi 6 for Airplay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, UPnP and Roon Ready support. Bluetooth 5.3? Yes, it's here, though pinch only SBC and AAC codecs supported, you'd astir apt want to instrumentality pinch Wi-Fi streaming.

Astra is simply a preamp, amp, DAC, streamer and phono shape successful a azygous and ultra-compact unit. You tin daisy-chain up to 8 devices, nan built-in phono shape useful pinch MM and MC cartridge turntables, nan pre-amp out tin beryllium group to mono aliases stereo, and Devialet says its proprietary Speaker Active Matching (SAM) exertion makes nan Astra compatible pinch complete 1,200 passive speaker profiles.

Connectivity? Ethernet, USB-C 2.0 (data port), integer coaxial inputs (up to 4x RCA 75Ω) integer optical ins (2x Toslink) analog inputs (up to 2x RCA stereo, positive that MM/MC phono shape pinch 13 equalization curves) are each present – and should you want to stack 2 of them for double nan power, Devialet says that'll beryllium seamless too, pinch nan Devialet power app astatine nan wheel.

Devialet's hi-fi lineup successful undeniably stylish – and premium…

I've loved Devialet products since nan institution announced its luxury in-seat airplane sound systems – nan subsequently news that they were arriving successful business people connected Japan Airlines past year.

For me, nan Devialet Astra looks not dissimilar to nan also-aspirational Beosound Level wireless speaker made my Bang & Olufsen – but machined from a azygous aluminum artifact past anodized, laser-engraved, brushed, and covered pinch 23-carat golden leaf, alternatively than nan Hygge wood-texture look of nan B&O product.

You besides get a redesigned, battery-powered USB-C distant successful nan box. The ample knob cardinal to its creation reminds maine of nan even-more-expensive Moon North 761 and 791 amplification strategy I spent a joyous evening enjoying past year, which tin only beryllium a Very Good Thing.

Each Devialet Astra Opéra de Paris successful individually numbered – truthful you cognize it's not going to travel cheap. Ready? The Devialet Astra Opéra de Paris is disposable now, priced £18,000, which is astir $23, 340 aliases AU$35,070, earlier immoderate associated duties.

Bit rich | for nan blood? That's OK, Devialet is besides offering nan Astra successful 'Light Bronze' for conscionable £14,000, aliases astir $18,150. I'll return two…

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